Predators such as coyotes, bobcats, and owls can be a serious threat to our cats and dogs. However, most people misunderstand the dynamics of pet-predator interactions, and they usually make the wrong choices based on bad information. The myths about predators cause more harm than the predators themselves. In general, people overestimate the likelihood that a predator is responsible for their pet’s disappearance, while at the same time they underestimate the threat from predators in their own yards. With a little understanding and care, you can greatly reduce your pet’s risk of being taken by a coyote or another predator.

I find lost pets for a living, and I received training from Missing Pet Partnership, whose Founder, Kat Albrecht, pioneered most of the practices of lost pet rescue in use today. Since 2008, I have provided assistance or advice in the search for over 5,000 lost pets. My search dogs and I have found the remains of cats and dogs killed by predators on at least 85 occasions. In almost every case of a lost cat or dog, the owner was given wrong information about predator activity. Almost always, the pet owner is told by a friend, neighbor, or family member that there is no point in searching for a lost pet because he or she was definitely killed by a coyote. There is no basis for this persistent urban legend. Certainly, it is true that coyotes kill pets on occasion, but lost pets are found, alive and well, over 70% of the time, according to records I have kept. More pets would be found if their owners weren’t discouraged from searching for them. Owners of missing pets mistakenly being told not to look for their lost pet because a predator undoubtedly killed it is horribly unfair, but that’s just half of the problem.

The other half of the predator problem is exposing pets to predators in the first place. People think they can leave pets unattended outdoors and their chances of being taken by a predator are very small. That is true in a sense. The odds that your cat or dog will be taken by a predator on this particular day are very small. If your cat lives outdoors most of the time, he will probably live his whole life without being taken by a predator. Let’s look at the numbers this way: of 100 cats living outdoors their whole lives, probably only 7% will be killed by predators. With just a 7% chance of being taken, in 17 years of living, the odds of your cat being taken by a predator on this particular day are really very small. But if you add up that small chance of death day after day after day, the odds will gradually increase that your pet could be a victim. By limiting exposure to risk, you can limit the chances your pet will fall into that 7%.

To properly understand the risk from predators, it may help to know how predators attack. I will try to describe the process without being too graphic. Of the deaths by predator, the large majority are coyote attacks, over 90%. About 7% of predator attacks on pets are by bobcats, 2.5% from owls, and .5% from others such as mountain lions, eagles, and hawks. Contrary to popular opinion, raccoons are responsible for less than .001% of pet deaths. A small dog named Cookie lived in Issaquah in a neighborhood surrounded by woods. Her owners called me to have my search dog Kelsy come out and look for Cookie. I interviewed them first, and got relevant details about the dog and the circumstances. Cookie was older, with a few health issues. She never wandered far from the front door, and she came in soon after her outdoor breaks. After dark one evening, Cookie went out the front door while the owner stood in the doorway waiting. Cookie was last seen about 35 feet from the door. Then she was suddenly gone, with no noise. Kelsy started on the scent trail at the point Cookie was last seen, and she followed the scent for about 150 feet, around the house, into the greenbelt behind the houses, and a little way southeast, behind the neighbor’s house. There she found Cookie’s vest, stained with blood, and a few internal organs. There was no doubt that a predator had killed a pet there, and the presence of Cookie’s vest confirmed that it had to be her. On dozens of occasions, my search dogs have confirmed the same scenario with coyote attacks: they were silent and sudden, usually in the pet’s yard, often within fifty feet of a person. Almost no evidence was found at the point of attack, and a small but significant amount of remains was found within 200 feet of the point the pet was last seen.

This pattern of predation tells us how it usually happens, and gives us information that we can use to greatly reduce the risk. First, don’t assume that your pet will not be taken by a predator just because you are standing 30 feet away. My dog Fozzie only weighs 13 pounds, and I would never leave him outdoors off-leash. If he is outside, I am right there with him, watching him every second. Although the risk of him being taken by a predator is small, I choose to eliminate that risk entirely by always being with him. If you can’t always be with your small dog outside, or if you can’t keep your cat indoors all the time, understanding how coyote attacks occur can help you minimize risk. Coyotes are lazy and smart. It appears, based on the evidence I’ve heard and seen, that they watch pets over time and learn their daily routines. Coyotes know that a certain dog is going to be left alone outside for a certain amount of time at a particular time of day. They know that a cat likes to lie in the sun in a particular sunny spot. Coyotes have wild rabbits and rodents to prey on everywhere, so they don’t need to prey on pets for survival. In case after case, the evidence shows they are most likely to take pets who have daily routine and who habitually rest in a particular spot, creating an irresistible opportunity for a coyote. For the most part, coyotes do not hunt and chase down pets. They use stealth and cunning whenever possible.

Another noteworthy aspect of coyote attacks is that while coyotes usually do not take domestic pets, once a particular coyote begins preying on pets, he will most likely continue. You will see a rash of missing pet flyers in a particular neighborhood, as happened in Kirkland, WA, starting in December of 2015. There are few scientific studies of coyotes preying on pets, but one that is often cited is about coyotes in Arizona, where a pack of coyotes preyed on cats regularly. Although the study’s findings are not in doubt, it is a small sample of single population, and not indicative of all coyotes. My records are not scientifically valid, in the sense that people who request my services are a self-selected population of people who want to do everything they can to find their pets, and not necessarily representative of the average pet owner. Based on my records and my awareness of other sources of information, my best guess is that coyotes and other predators are responsible for only about 7% to 10% of missing pets. I would be very surprised and skeptical if a scientific study found that more than 15% of lost pets had been taken by predators.

Bobcats cover large territories and don’t hang around one place too long. Bobcat attacks are unpredictable and hard to guard against. Any steps you can take to reduce the chances of a coyote attack will also reduce the chances of a bobcat attack. Owl attacks are even rarer. Most owls cannot take away the average cat or small dog. In the Puget Sound area, the only owl that can lift an average cat would be the Great Horned Owl. Google Great Horned Owl sound if you hear any owls around your house, to see if it might be this species. The most common owls you will hear are the Barred Owl and the Screech Owl, which are not a threat to your pet. If you do know you have Great Horned Owls in your area, don’t let your small pet outside between one hour before sunset and one hour after sunrise.

Steps you can take to reduce the chances of your pet being taken by a predator:

—All cats should live indoors all the time. Indoor cats live twice as long as outdoor access cats, not only because of predators, but also because of diseases, toxins, traffic, and other hazards.—If your cat must go outside, try to limit outdoor times to when you can be right there with the cat. If you are gardening or mowing the lawn, try to make sure you are between your cat and the woodsy greenbelt behind your house.—Don’t leave out food sources such as garbage or pet food that might attract predators or vermin. If you know of a neighbor who does feed wild animals, encourage them to stop, or simply don’t let your pets outside unattended. If you compost food, do it in a covered container with vents that are too small for raccoons, coyotes, and bobcats to get into.—Do not assume a tall fence protects your cat or small dog. A coyote can sail right over a six foot fence like it was nothing.—If your dog weighs less than 20 pounds, always accompany him out in the yard and stay close to him, preferably on a leash.—Pay attention to lost pet flyers in the area. If you suddenly start to see flyers for cats and small dogs missing within a mile of your house, seriously considering taking greater precautions with your pets, as listed above.Install cameras around your house so you can see if predators are coming around.—Shooting or trapping coyotes will not protect your pets. Coyotes never go into humane traps, for one thing. They are too smart. If you do shoot coyotes around your home, more coyotes are bound to come around sooner or later. Predator deterrents, like a sprinkler with a motion detector or solar powered red blinking LED lights (Google Nite Guard), are sometimes effective, but not always.—If coyotes act very bold around you, seemingly unafraid of humans, haze them by throwing rocks at them or spraying them with the hose.—Don’t allow your cat to walk on your roof on a regular basis, as this would significantly elevate the chances of an owl attack.

If your pet has gone missing, don’t automatically assume a predator is responsible. This will only discourage you and distract you from other strategies for finding your lost pet. When you are looking for a lost pet, you will undoubtedly meet someone who will tell you that a predator has definitely taken your pet. Ask for details. If they say they personally witnessed a predator going away with your pet in it’s mouth, then ask for more details and attempt to find physical evidence that corroborates this account. If they say something generic, like, “Everyone knows that coyotes kill cats around here,” thank them for the information and move on. Remember, most lost pets are found, and the greatest danger a lost pet faces is if you stop looking for him. Free information on finding lost pets can be found at www.3retrievers.com